Aleksa Latković, a 24-year-old striker from Cetinje, now with Varaždin, made his single appearance in the Montenegrin League six years ago while playing for Lovćen. Since then, he has forged his football career and reputation in Croatia.

There’s a hint of irony in his story—his only match in the CFL was against Rudar, and he faced their then-forward Radomir Đalović, who is now the coach of Rijeka. Last Saturday, Latković scored against Đalović’s team during the 20th round of the Croatian Football League (HNL).

Latković’s goal led Varaždin to a surprising win over the league leader (1:0), bringing disappointment to the Montenegrin coach. However, he can take solace in the fact that both Dinamo and Hajduk, competitors in the title race, also suffered defeats in the same round.

Currently, Rijeka remains at the top of the standings, while Varaždin holds a tie for fourth place, harboring hopes of competing in European competitions. Latković began the spring half-season on a high note, scoring two goals in two matches, adding another to his tally against Gorica in the 19th round.

– I’ve been in Varaždin for four months now, and I’ve adapted well. My teammates have welcomed me, and the environment is fantastic—everything an athlete could wish for. This positive atmosphere appears to be contributing to my performances and goal-scoring – he tells “Vijesti”.

How did Aleksa Latković find his way to Varaždin to knock off the league leaders and chase European qualification? What led him to Croatia?

His football path has flown somewhat “under the radar,” but talent and hard work eventually emerge. This holds true in Montenegro, Croatia, Germany, or anywhere else.

– I started at Lovćen, playing as a teenager. We faced relegation to the Second League but quickly bounced back in 2018 with a playoff victory against Kom. I made my debut in the first league that fall, and I remember my only appearance was against Rudar, during which I assisted Marko Đurović for a goal. We won 3:1, and I remember Đalović scored for Rudar—he reminisces.

It was another encounter with Đalović last Saturday…

– We didn’t catch up post-match; he was probably focused on his own tasks, and I was on mine. However, we have met a few times in Zagreb to discuss football. His advice has been insightful; he’s excelling as a coach, and I wish him the best – says Latković.

Back to 2018…

– After that debut in the Montenegrin League, I had a trial with Osijek at the end of the autumn. I am grateful to Lovćen for allowing me to take such a substantial leave during the season. I signed with Osijek in early 2019. It was challenging at first due to the significant upheaval—both in football and my personal life, leaving home for the first time—but things improved by summer. I was integrated into the first team, trained with them, played matches for Osijek II, scored goals, then the league faced suspension due to the coronavirus.

In the 2020/21 season, Latković truly asserted himself as a versatile forward, capable of playing various attacking positions.

– I was a regular in the Croatian Second League for Osijek II that entire season, scoring goals. Towards the end of the season, I received an offer from Rudeš, which brought me to Zagreb.

Latković experienced two more seasons in the second league before stepping up to the first league with Rudeš. He participated in 24 HNL games in the 2022/23 season, recording three goals. Unfortunately, relegation followed…

– It’s disappointing because we performed reasonably well; however, our youth and inexperience caught up with us – he reflects.

Post-relegation, Rudeš found themselves back in the Croatian National League after just two rounds in the new season in August, heading to Varaždin.

Aleksa’s current team is one of the surprises this season, competing closely with the “big four,” tied on points with fourth-placed Osijek and achieving notable wins against Rijeka and Hajduk earlier in the season.

– We’re performing strongly, and I hope this momentum continues. The league is competitive, apart from Dinamo, which is exceptional. The fact that Dinamo sits third on the table underscores the unpredictability of the league. If you ask me who will win the championship, I couldn’t answer. We’re focused on taking it match by match, with our next challenge against Hajduk in Split. The atmosphere in our team is fantastic, and we aspire to European competitions – states Latković.

– Personally, I believe that scoring in both spring matches will help me settle in further. I have a contract with Varaždin until 2027, and we’ll see what the future holds. This club is a genuine launchpad for my career – concludes the nimble-footed native of Cetinje.

Under Prosinečki, we played our best.

During the initial six games of the last Croatian Football League season while playing for Rudeš, Aleksa Latković was under the guidance of Robert Prosinečki, the current Montenegro coach.

– He managed us for six rounds; although we didn’t achieve results during that time, we played our best football under his leadership. The team atmosphere was excellent, yet we dropped points unnecessarily. Working with someone of his stature was an unforgettable experience.

A year and a half later, Latković aspires for a new opportunity under Robi.

– Playing for the Montenegrin national team would be a dream come true; I hope that day arrives. I’ve represented the youth national teams, and making it to the senior team would be the ultimate achievement.

News